US1091497A - Fall-block. - Google Patents

Description

J. G. POX.

FALL BLOCK.

APPLIOATION FILED 001220, 1913.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

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wuuuou JOHN C. FOX, OF MOKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

' FALL-BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

Application filed October 20, 1913. Serial No. 796,119.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. Fox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mo- Keesport, in the county of Alleghen and State of Pennsylvania, have invente certain new and useful Improvements in Fall- Blocks, of which the following is a specificat-ion.

My invention aims to provide a fall block constructed to provide a maximum safety from personal injuries and also to greatly reduce the liability to such injuries to those required to handle it. Many accidents are caused when using these blocks practically through the carlessness upon the part of the workmen using them, in grasping the cable while the same is in motion, or by grasping the cable to assist in attaching the block while not in motion but which may be accidentally started.

In my design, I have provided a covering for the normally open top portion of the block, which will absolutely prevent the indrawing of the fingers or the hand to the main sheave wheel. This cover portion extends between the two side plates normally, used and above the main sheave wheel and is apertured for the passage of the ropes or cables. In its preferred form, I make this cover portion of substantially plane formation and disposed in' a horizontal relation when the block is operatively suspended,-

whereby it will be noted that the cables and cover portion are substantially at right a-n gles to each other, thereby obviating all crowding or wedging and the workman being caught unawares with his hands in a dangerous position. I have also provided two idler sheaves, disposed opposite each other and adjacent the cover portion to prevent abnormal wear of the cable by its engagement with the walls of the apertures through the cover portion, due to its natural swinging or oscillation when in use. In this latter form, I desirably extend the cover portion well around the corners of the block to also protect the workmen from the action of these idler sheaves.

Further objects of my invention will be apparent from a detailed description of the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure l is a view showing my fall block in section, such section being taken directly behind one of the face plates, and, Fig. 2

is a section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

In embodying all .of the above objects in one device, I have provided opposing face plates 1 of substantially triangular form having flanged portions 2 at their upper ends, such flanged portions extending well around the upper corners of the plates as shown at 2. Reference to Fig. 2 will show that the block, as a whole, is split centrally whereby the face plates can be made interchangeable. The main sheave 3 is journaled at approximately a central point between these two face plates upon a shaft 4 provided with threads 5 at its opposite ends and securely held in position by means of nuts 6, each locked against rotation'by a cotter pin 7. The main sheave itself rotates about a bushing 8 of somewhat greater length than the width of the hub portion of the sheave itself, thereby preventing a binding action when the nuts 6 are drawn tight. The cover ortion formed by the cooperation of the fanges 2 and 2 is provided with apertures 9 through which the rope or cable 10 is adapted to pass, these apertures being arranged to be about midway between the working surface of the main sheave 3 and idler sheaves 11 carried between the adjacent upper corners of the face plates. These apertures are of a size to permit free passing therethrough of the cable 10 and the purpose of the idler sheaves is to prevent the cable 10 from entering or leaving the fall block in anything but its true path of travel or in other words, to prevent this cable from entering or leaving in any manner except in true alinementwith the grooves of the main sheave, whereby wear upon the cable itself is reduced, by preventing its engagement with the outside walls of the apertures 9.

It will be apparent that due to the natural swinging or oscillation of a fall block when in use, one or the other of the idler sheaves 11' will come into pla to insurethe correct path of movement 0 such cables and will prevent excessive swinging or oscillation. As will be seen from the drawings, these idler sheaves are mounted upon bolts 12 each carrying a bushing 13 constructed similar to the bushin 8. Nuts 1 1 are also provided to assist in Einding the two face plates together in a manner similar to the nuts 6. The lower portions of these face plates carry between them a hook 15 of well known construction, such hook being provided with a swivel mounting as is customary inthese devices. A supporting bolt 16 having its ends threaded and carrying nuts 17 is provided and has a central aperture through which the shank of the hook is adapted to ass and to be headed over as shown at 18. n this manner the hook may rotate about its axis or may be made to oscillate about the bolt 16.

' From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that a type of device has been provided where it is practically impos sible for a workman to injure himself, owing to the elimination of such inclined wedging surfaces as are common to these blocks, at the top or entrance end thereof. Further, idler sheaves 11 have also been provided for protecting the cable itself against wear, these sheaves being also guarded by the housing or flanged portions 2*.

What I claim, is:

1. A fall block comprising a pair of side plates, a main sheave j ournaled between said side plates, a cover portion spanning the distance between said side plates at the top portion thereof, said cover bein apertured for the sheave ropes, a swivele hook carried between said plates at the bottom thereof, and a pluralit of idler sheaves mounted between said p ates directly beneath said cover portion.

' meme? 2. A fall block comprising a pair of side plates, the upper portlons of said plates bemg substantially horizontal when the block is held operativel suspended, a cover portion of substantia ly plane formation spannmg the distance between the upper por tlons of said lates, a sheave journaled between said ates, said cover being apertured for t e sheave ropes, and' a hook mounted between said plates at the bottom thereof.

3. A fall block comprising a pair of substantially triangular sideplates having one of their legs disposed in a horizontal position when the block is held operatively suspended, a cover portion of substantially plane formation spanning the distance between the horizontally disposed portions of said plates and extending an appreciable distance around the cornersv thereof, a main sheave journaled between said side plates, said cover portion bein apertured for the sheave ropes, a pair of i ler sheaves mounted between said plates, one in each of said protected corners,-and a hook mounted between "said plates at the bottom thereof.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN 0. FOX.

Witnesses: K

WALTER E. L. B0011, A. PHELPS.

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